The scorching heat of the desert, already ravaged by Lin Ran's tyrannical Dou Techniques, should have created a land of lifeless despair. But in that very moment, a subtle dampness began to permeate the air.
Faintly, the sky overhead started to drizzle with a soft patter of rain, tiny droplets falling rhythmically.
This sudden shift in the heavens—was all because of the appearance of a white-robed elder who had emerged from thin air.
To stir the elements of the world with one's internal Dou Qi... such power had already surpassed the comprehension of ordinary cultivators. Add to that the ability to rip space apart and seal it effortlessly, and the identity of the figure was all but confirmed.
"Dou Venerate…"
Lin Ran's gaze locked firmly onto the white-robed elder, a deep frustration flickering in his heart.
He had long anticipated that figures like Xiao Yan and Yao Chen—those tied to the original storyline—would be hard to kill. But this was simply absurd.
Xiao Yan hadn't even walked out of the Tager Desert yet. He hadn't climbed the steps of the Misty Cloud Sect a single time. He was the very definition of a rookie, still dwelling in the novice village of the continent. Yet this "novice" had been protected again and again.
And now… now he had summoned a Dou Venerate!
Not just any Dou Venerate either. This one was from the Ancient Clan!
The foundation of an ancient bloodline clan—its reserves, its strength—was simply not something that ordinary factions could compare to.
The white-robed elder looked indifferently at the unconscious Xiao Yan behind him, and at Yao Chen whose soul was on the verge of collapse. A flicker of surprise passed through his eyes.
"Yao Chen the Alchemy Sovereign?"
"That's me… thank you for your assistance…"
Yao Chen's voice was weak. He didn't recognize the white-robed elder, but judging from his actions, he was clearly a friend, not an enemy.
"I came here for that boy."
The elder smiled as he looked at the unconscious Xiao Yan, his tone carrying a hint of admiration.
"This kid's luck isn't shallow. To be chosen by the young lady… he's the first."
"Young lady?"
Yao Chen blinked, a hint of realization surfacing in his expression. He let out a bitter smile and shook his head.
"So, you're from that clan."
"Aren't you as well, Lord Yao Chen?"
The two old men exchanged a glance and chuckled with hidden meaning.
The white-robed elder raised his hand slightly, and a wave of powerful Dou Qi carried a drop of emerald-green medicinal liquid. It fell on Yao Chen's body, instantly reviving his failing aura.
Only after doing this did the elder turn around to face Lin Ran, who now stood with a grim expression. The elder's smile faded.
"You're the one who killed my clan's guard?"
"I am."
Lin Ran responded with a cold snort. Even when facing a Dou Venerate, he showed no fear.
"I only want Yao Chen's soul. Your guard brought death upon himself. If he stood in my way, then he chose to die. I merely helped him along."
"Arrogant indeed." The elder chuckled. "Your talent is exceptional. Even within my Ancient Clan, few have reached such a level at your age."
"Heh."
Lin Ran's expression twitched slightly. Inwardly, he was filled with irritation.
He had planned for this. To eliminate Xiao Yan and Yao Chen early, to erase the threats before they could grow. He had even used Xiao Li to draw Xiao Yan out.
But the moment he made his move, one after another, people had jumped out to interfere. And now… a Dou Venerate.
'Is this what it means to be the protagonist?'
"What a pity. If you had a few more years, perhaps even I would need to look up to you. But now... you've made a mistake. And for every mistake, there must be a price."
As the elder finished speaking, his pale hand extended from his sleeve. Vast and boundless Dou Qi surged out in a wave, condensing in an instant into a ten-zhang-wide golden-green palm imprint.
It came crashing down toward Lin Ran.
Hearing the terrifying roar of the attack slicing through the air, Lin Ran's expression changed slightly as he shot backward.
At the same time, he raised his own palm, and Pure Yang Dou Qi—brilliant and fiery—erupted from his hand, forming a golden palm to meet the blow.
Boom!
The two palms clashed midair, unleashing a deafening explosion. Shockwaves rippled out across the sky like an earthquake.
Lin Ran was forced backward a dozen steps in midair. His Qi and blood surged violently, and a solemn expression flashed across his face.
'This old fossil from the Ancient Clan... his strength is ridiculous. As expected of a Dou Venerate.'
The difference between a Dou Ancestor and a Dou Venerate may be just a single word, but in truth, it was the difference between heaven and earth.
On the Dou Qi Continent, the higher one rose, the greater the disparity between levels. At the true peak, even one or two stars could make a world of difference.
Not to mention... Lin Ran was facing someone a full major realm above him!
Even so—
'It's been a while since I've felt pressure like this.'
Lin Ran took a deep breath and steadied the churning blood within him. Stabilizing his figure midair, he stood tall. Under the elder's surprised gaze, his Pure Yang Dou Qi grew fiercer, and his will to battle burned stronger.
"To have reached Seven-Star Dou Ancestor and still possess the desire to fight against a Dou Venerate… not bad."
The elder smiled faintly.
"Still want to resist?"
As he spoke, the elder extended his hand. Five fingers opened toward Lin Ran. A faint tremor passed through his fingers.
In the blink of an eye, five thick golden mists shot out from his fingertips, swiftly coalescing into strange golden longswords.
With a tearing sound, they pierced space and appeared above Lin Ran in an instant.
The sudden attack caught Lin Ran off guard. His form flickered into golden light and dodged to the side.
"Shhh!"
The golden swords plunged downward, just grazing past Lin Ran's face before slamming into the desert floor below. The sands exploded, and the earth cried out beneath them.
"Not bad."
The elder gave a calm smile. With a flick of his finger, more golden swords flew out, cutting through the air with razor wind, aiming straight for Lin Ran's vital points.
The speed of the attacks was terrifying. One after another, the swords formed afterimages in the sky. Each one carried deadly power, impossible to predict or block with ordinary methods.
"Ding! Ding! Ding!"
Faced with this barrage, Lin Ran's expression grew colder. With a firm grip, he condensed a sword of Pure Yang Dou Qi.
With a sweep of his arm, a dense screen of sword shadows surrounded him, creating a solid barrier of light that intercepted every golden sword.
"Clang!"
One sword struck heavily against his Pure Yang Sword, the force dragging Lin Ran several steps backward across the sand. Only then did he steady himself. A numb tingling spread through his arm.
'A Dou Venerate... truly terrifying.'
Lin Ran's gaze sharpened. The vast Dou Qi within him surged through his meridians like a roaring flood.
Two years ago, he had already reached the Seven-Star Dou Ancestor level. But perhaps because he had cultivated the Hehuan Art and advanced too rapidly, his Yin and Yang energies had fallen into disarray. His body brimmed with Yang, but lacked Yin. It created an imbalance that stalled his cultivation for an entire year.
Even using furnace methods didn't help.
To fix the issue, he had traveled to the Northwestern Continent under the guise of establishing a branch sect. In truth, he had been searching for pill ingredients to refine medicine and restore his balance.
To be honest, Lin Ran had never tested his limits. Back in the sect, the protection of the Scorpion Demon Three Ghosts meant he had never truly gone all out.
The only time he had was when he fought a Dou Ancestor-level enforcer from the Hall of Souls.
But that one was too weak—barely a one- or two-star Dou Ancestor. Lin Ran had killed him with a single slap.
Despite his confidence, Lin Ran knew that against a true Dou Venerate, if he didn't go all out, he wouldn't even get a chance to strike.
Having made up his mind, Lin Ran unleashed his full strength.
His Pure Yang Dou Qi erupted without restraint.
It was time—
—to set his blood ablaze once more!
(End of Chapter)